Diet-induced changes in alginate- and laminaran-fermenting bacterial levels in the caecal contents of rats

► Edible brown algae contain soluble polysaccharides. ► These are alginic acid, fucoidan and laminaran. ► Rats were fed diet containing 2% w/w of the polysaccharides for 2 weeks. ► The levels of dietary fiber-fermenting bacteria were promoted by the diets. ► Some species were detected as typical species in rats fed alginate and laminaran.